Monkey Business Sports was awesome enough to send over some of their Foam Strike line, in this case Pocket Shots, their take on the slingshot.
Stats: Pocket Shot – MSRP: $6.00 Includes: Pocket Shot x 1, Ball ammo x 3 Range: Just under 30′
VIDEO:
Pocket Shot ammo (center) vs. Nerf ballistic balls
In order to load it, you wedge a ball between the uprights of the Pocket Shot, pull back the “hammer” and release, striking the ball forward.
As you can see, it took some adjusting to get the shot to go straight but it flew well once I had the mechanics dialed in. The table was set up around 30′ away, and the ball dropped a little short so there’s your range there.
The Pocket Shot strikes me as a blaster that truly can get played indoors or out. The ammo flies softly enough that I don’t think it could knock over a vase or anything breakable. It is also small enough to pocket, even if you are carrying additional ammo which is a good characteristic for a sidearm. The only shortcoming is that unless you are carrying additional ammo, you’re stuck with 3 shots before you have to retrieve.
The action of pulling back the bungee cord (as all Foam Strike shooters use; compared to the rubber tubing Zing Toys uses) is a very satisfying and tactile sensation, so while this won’t set any range records it is still a bit of fun to play with. Definitely leave a group of them on a table at a party and see what happens:)
The shape makes these shooters very low profile and unassuming, as opposed to some typical gun shapes that might scare administrators or parents. Coupled with the softness of the ammo and the low velocity rate, if my nephew were still 5 years old, I’d feel safe letting him play with this under supervision (he’s 10 now). The Pocket Shot is pretty quick to load and a convenient sidearm if you’re in the market for one. At the very least, having a slew of them around and random shootouts with friends is a great way to even trigger interest in the hobby at large. Pretty good offering from Foam Strike with this mini shooter, and after seeing their own bow and arrow hit 200’+, I look forward to seeing more from Monkey Business Sports, for sure.
Splatmaster Playgroup – late 20-early 30 year olds, varying levels of experience with gas-powered paintball
Ah, paintball. Flinging spheres of paint at 200-300 fps out of CO2 charged markers in games of combat, whether objective or elimination based, it’s a hobby that has had quite the following. In Illinois, we have a truly unique field, CPX Sports that has a HUGE selection of fields. And not just inflatables, but some include a full-on town (Bedlam), a burnt out city (Armageddon) and an ancient temple (Jungle of Doom). What does all this have to do with JT Splatmaster, from JT Paintball?
JT Splatmaster wanted a review, and CPX was willing to let me bring a group over to play and give some feedback on both the JT Splatmaster markers and the field itself. And on that note, let’s take a look at the markers. Also available are a bevy of accessories, and you can read more about those HERE
First, the JT SPLATMASTER Z100 PISTOL($29.99):
With barrel plug inserted; and pullback assistance handle attached.
A look at the magazine (7 shots)
Included:
Z100 marker x 1
Pullback assist handle x 1
Barrel plug x 1
Instruction manual x 1
Magazine for the marker x 1 (additional magazines sold separately)
WHAT ABOUT IT? Right off the bat, I knew this thing wasn’t a toy. Sure, you had “paintball” things like the old lever-action Supasplats and others like those, but they did not feel NEARLY as solid as the Splatmaster markers. The outside is a really durable and tough, thick plastic. At least, I think it’s plastic. Either way, this thing will take a beating. There’s a button for a magazine release and a safety switch (a proper one-touch switch; not the continuous hold like on the BlasterPro line), which adds to the feel, aesthetics, and usage of the marker.
The magazine holds 7shots, and primes by pulling back the side on the top, if you can use a Maverick, you can use this. It’s definitely longer than a maverick and heavier, but it’s also much easier to holster. Magazines are going to be sold separately. I found the pullback assist handle not that easy to attach and it came off when I pulled it, so I just left it off. Still a lot of fun to shoot though, I just wish I had more mags on-hand.
Next, the JT SPLATMASTER Z200 SHOTGUN ($39.99):
Included:
Z200 marker x 1
Barrel plug x 1
Cleaning rod x 1
Instruction manual x 1
This was the marker we used for the duration of the day. 15 shots, pump-action, and breech loaded (even had a floppy trap door over the breach, nice touch! It also has a safety switch but no other buttons. You can see it has tactical rails, as I attached a camera to it. It’ll accept picatinny mounts, so if you have’em, use’em! Word has it that additional accessories are in the works, so keep your eye out for them. Additional accessories such as ammo packs, targets, and safety equipment are all located here. One recommendation from Hustle paintball is to use the 50 count grenade container to hold spare ammo, and there is a nozzle on that and the 200 paintball container to assist in loading through the breech of the Z200 swiftly. This too is built incredibly solid, and I just wish it had a stock. Maybe in a later marker.
GENERAL THOUGHTS: These have been chrono’d at 120-130 fps, drastically less than their gas-powered siblings. Even at that rate though, it is wise to treat these as you would any other paintball marker, including using a full mask and goggles when playing in a player vs player game. For target practice, you can get away with just using the goggles. Safety first, and it’s usually a good policy to have eye protection on when playing with any toys that shoot. That being said, these things were a lot of fun! The group had limited experience playing paintball, some a handful of times and others not at all. The general consensus was everyone enjoyed the decrease in pain (I told everyone to layer up as they would playing normal paintball) and the much more limited ammo available. Instead of a full hopper, you had only the 15 rounds to make it in a round (none of us had extra ammo holders available, although some risked keeping spare ammo in their pockets. I know, I know >_<) People could run and charge at each other without getting tagged 5 or 10 times from a hail of paint. Would we do it again? Sure! Will this kill paintball? No! It'll get more people interested at least, and this is a bang-up way to introduce them to the sport. Whether 9 or 29, this is a good thing for people looking to play something a little different without feeling beaten up. These things definitely stung enough to let you know you got hit, but no worse than getting a bad insect bite. I've been punched harder than these things put out.
It was definitely nice to try some new strategies rather than just lay out paint, and JT is definitely onto something here. Hopefully, we’ll see even more new markers next year. Between the solid build, the fps, and the accuracy (these things definitely hit 50′ in a better cluster than I thought, but 100′ is still a max range, and it’s hard to hit anything then.
Interestingly, no ammo with the markers. Considering how fussy paint balls can be, I shouldn’t be surprised. It is much easier to regulate temperature and shipping conditions when you separate the products. Also, the goggles and masks are sold as separate units, to reinforce that younger players should work their way up to playing Player vs. Player games. Parents, this would be one way to incentivize proper blaster/marker safety. They can’t PvP without earning their way up to the mask. Also, some paintball fields might have these for rent: rentals are different colored from the markers at retailers to prevent theft. Rentals pistols are red, while the shotguns are blue. Vice versa for consumer markers. This does not mean consumer markers are different, just a different shell but they all perform the same.
On that note, here’s a video of various footage I snagged during that day:
Considering the ranges and power these things do have, it’s definitely better to keep the play to the backyard. You don’t have to worry about accidentally hitting someone unexpectedly which again, safety first. Definitely nice not having to pick up ammo after myself for once, but it definitely pays to play in a proper field, with ammo that washes away/disintegrates. Worth giving a try!
Ah well. Questions? Comments? Feel free to post below or write: foamfromabove_AT_G_MaIL-DOT-COM
Back at New York Toy Fair, I Nerf Firevision gear, and it was pretty awesome. While not intended for play in ABSOLUTE darkness (yeah…. sure…. no one’ll try that…) being able to see the the various equipment (football, basketball, etc.) brightly illuminated up to 100′ is pretty neat.
Now while sports are the forte of this line, I had to wonder what kind of applications these lights and reflective surfaces had for other purposes. And if there’s something we love to do here at the House of Foam, it’s repurpose items for all kinds of stuff. (Not mod though, can’t do that. Hi Nerf!)
Quick rundown – (prices are approximate)
Hyperball set with either red or green frames – $9.99 Nerfoop set with either red or green frames – $14.99 Nerf football set with red or green frames – $19.99 Red or green frames sold separately – $5.99
And now, the video! We would use an objective-based game where zombies (we only had 3 red pairs of frames available, so the starting zombies got those) had to find the hyper ball after it was hidden by the humans. Game ended once the zombies got the “brain”. Humans just had to survive with the brain as long as they could.
Let’s go to the tape!
Personally, I’m a big fan about how vibrant the light is (the green illuminates a bit more visibly than the red) and it just shows up on camera so well. Definitely see what all the hoopla is about with Firevision, maybe you’ll find a game that works for it too 🙂
Here we go! So the Maya Group thought fit to send over a couple of samples of their latest offerings, the new-revamped X2 Xploderz Mauler 1000 and the BlasterPro S2500.
First things first, let’s talk about the Mauler. Then we’ll go into BlasterPro, more after the jump —->
OK!
X2 Xploderz Mauler 1000. What can I say about it? I wasn’t a fan of Xploderz before, and I will admit that this goes a long way to address some of the problems that I had with the original run.
What’s new:
– No jiggly side handle to load ammo before each shot. Yay! – The thing actually shoots. The XGround Pounder was terrible with misfires and barely had a round clear the barrel. I was firing consistently with the Mauler.
What’s still there: – Still no trigger. Word has it something to do with using stored energy (such as a trigger) makes it a toy safety regulation issue. Not totally sure on the phrasing , but that’s what they say. – Gel-ammo. It’s fun! No colors, no splotches, no getting soaked. It breaks apart and dries up. Pickup not necessary. – Hopper sits on top of the blaster…. so… sights… there are none. – High ranges. It does get pretty close to 100′, but hitting that range with accuracy is the real issue. – Still grow your ammo in the included ammo depot, then link that up with you hopper when you want to reload.
Comes with: 1 Mauler 1000 rounds of ammo Ammo Depot Hopper Instructions
Ok, now to get to it. If the Mauler is any indicator about the X2 line, the Maya Group got some things right with this. They have range and output. However, the triggerless system feels a bit awkward for me to use, and the design of the blaster, while futuristic, is uncomfortable to wield.
The Mauler works like this: You pull the handle back which causes ammo to load into the barrel (before you had to jiggle a handle to open the loading door that dropped ammo in), hold the handle, and release it when ready to fire. A little simpler, a lot easier to shoot. And more relable! Definitely better than the Ground Pounder.
A bit more focused picture of the trigger guard
The trigger-guard’s square shape was a bit uncomfortable to hold for extended usage not to mention trying to hold the blaster steady while shooting was difficult because of the pull and release. Trying to stiffen my arm holding the blaster, like a bow and aroow, was less than effective because the pull arm is sized for the target market, kids. It’s like trying to shoot something that’s a hybrid bow and arrow and gun. The smooth knob of the handle on the “power arm” doesn’t lend itself well to consistent pull; my hand did slip off now and again from test-firing it. Unfortunately, my aim was kind of all over the place because of this.
The Bow N Mallow shooter has a good example of a form that works. I would have liked a rounder grip to fit my hands, and once again… the ability to aim down the sights. The power arm makes me want to the position the blaster along my arm already, (again, the bow and arrow comparison) so aiming right down the top of the blaster happens naturally for me. Trying to fire from the waist is just a little more awkward with the power arm and where my arm gets positioned to use it.
NEXT UP: BlasterPro S2500 (manual pump-action shooter)
Ah, the new stuff! The smaller-ammoed, harder hitting, less-time growing entry to more advanced tactical blastersports from Maya Group. It sells a paintball and/or airsoft experience with none of the mess and splatter. At approx. $30 for the S2500 and approx. $50 for the electric (Es5000) version, it is certainly cost-effective compared to a day on a paintball field.
It comes with a zombie color-change target, 170 rounds ready-grown, the S2500, 5 bags of 500 pieces of dry ammo (grows in 90 mins with water) and the box.
It works by pumping the handle, pushing down a safety button (and keeping it pushed when you want to fire), and pulling the trigger. The video below demonstrates.
First off, the thing definitely gets near the 100′ mark angled, and hits around 70′ flat. Maya Group isn’t kidding though about the ages on this thing, it hits pretty hard. Here’s a shot I took from a little more than 10′ away –
A little too close at range? Maybe. But this is what the thing can do. Having played paintball before, the welt is nothing but wanted to share for anyone who was curious. 14+ is definitely the market this sits in.
It does have range, output, a triggered experience, and the aesthetics of a shotgun. While it may be a bit too dark-colored for some folks, make sure you are responsible with it.
A couple of notes about the design: the pump-handle is a bit herky-jerky when popping off shots, I think to ensure the ammo drops in and to prime the gun. There was this consistent point in the motion that I really had to pull on the handle to move it, and you can hear it in the video I think. Additionally, the pump-handle struck me as a little undersized, I really felt like my hands wrapped around it and even pinched my hand a couple of times when it went flush with the rest of the gun. It could stand to be a bit bigger, but at that point I’m being nitpicky.
Unlike Xploderz, the hopper can be reloaded via a door at the top of the ammo container:
You’ll most likely find this in the paintball/airsoft section of your local stores, and if you feel like you want to paintball but don’t have the time/money to hit a field, give these a try. Definitely less cleanup and cheaper than a paintball field, but remember these aren’t toys and should be respected as such. Watch your eyes, your aim, and most importantly the other side 🙂
Helped the Tacticool Tag and Gaming Society of Chicagoland (TTAGS) run some capture the flag minigames at the Justplay! Sports and Rec Festival in Carol Stream, IL! We had giveaways, awards, and a great number of people, hopefully getting them interested in the hobby and showing a new way to play. Also, that you don’t have to be 8 years or under to enjoy toy blasters. Nerf and other foam shooters were represented of course, but we also put our Vapor Atlas 250s and the Vapor Delta 500 to good use.
Thanks to all who showed up! And with any luck, we’ll be in Carol Stream doing meetups on a more regular basis 🙂
Big thank you to the Carol Stream Park District for setting us up, and letting us use your fair grounds! Hope to be back next year, bigger and better!
Foam From Above 